Since I see so many older people answering, I feel confident to chime in as well. I start in the fall and will be 44. Yikes!

I heard a few previous people respond to this question by mentioning not wanting to look back with any regrets, and that's a big motivating factor for me as well. I also really want to see what I am capable of and test my limits. I have just been accepted to my dream school and am looking forward to getting back into class. I'm excited to begin.

Thanks @colwellana863 . I see now that only applying to one school doesn't give me any leverage to use in negotiations, but I really only had the option of going to this one school, so I didn't see the logic in applying elsewhere. I didn't consider that it would bite me like it might here.

When I would sit and study for hours on end, I'd sometimes need a break just to get up and move my body. I remember thinking that because my time was so precious, I could either go for a quick run to get the blood moving, or I could clean my shower or vacuum etc. so a lot of times I would do a chore as a break from my studying. I remember once I was taking a shower and brought scrubbing bubbles in with me to kill two birds with one stone. ( I might have taken it a bit far with that one, 2out of 10 do not recommend) lol

The mindless repetitive motion of the chore was not only a nice physical break, but it was also a nice mental break.

You'll get good at sneaking in a little here and a little there, and like another mentioned above, if you stay on top of it it shouldn't ever get so bad that it takes up a large percentage of your time.

Hope this helps, good luck with your studying

Similar to what KeepCalm said about Sudoku, it's not lsat specific but I like to do the New York Times crossword puzzle. There is a sense of keeping time as the stopwatch starts as soon as you begin, and there are always interesting words to learn which might help in RC. hope this helps

@colwellana863 said:

This reminds me of the bizarre, bizarre case of Dan Mallory that The New Yorker covered recently.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/11/a-suspense-novelists-trail-of-deceptions

Right? That guy was a piece of work! I could barely get through the article without having to step away from my computer to clam down. His hubris was maddening

thank you all. And thank you @hbochjk116 for the encouragement, I agree. Being truly excited about a program that they offer and rank really well in, I think shows that it is a compelling reason to go to them. @oshun1 your comment made me chuckle because you are totally right, if I just extol the virtues of their own program, I'm just selling them something they already own, and it doesn't say anything about me or why it would be a good fit for me. And thank you @hash97273 for the link. I've been looking for that

@colwellana863 said:

Reasons to want to go to the school don't have to be directly related to the school. For example, is it in a location that you really want to live/practice in? Talk about that. Do you have any family ties to the area that you could briefly mention? Don't make it all about outside factors, but if you can tie a few in then it won't seem like you just picked one program because you had to pick something. Do you say "excellent professors" or do you name the specific professors and what about them makes you want to learn under them? Anything that can make it seem more personal and less like a brochure for that one program can help.

Thank you @colwellana863 I will personalize it, and it will probably be better. I did say "excellent professors" and I see now that that sounds like a bottled response that could apply to anyone. lol thanks for your time and response

@markcollins208394 said:

You have proven that you can do better. No one knows why these types of outcomes occur. I say you get back to studying. You can do this. Don't settle. Who wants a lawyer who is willing to fold easily when things are looking unfavorable. I want to read how you kicked the LSAT in the metaphorical "whatever". Let's do this. I, too, tested below what I have been scoring on PT's. I'm just getting back in the lab and ready to rumble with this thing.

@markcollins208394 You are so right. I've never been one to give up. I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I could have maybe broken the streak with 1 more strong effort. And I absolutely cannot let this test win. Time to kick some metaphorical "whatever" together.

Now I wanna get back in the fight again! Thanks for your note. have an awesome week

@patriciakim511 said:

Truly hope nobody gives up on their dream simply because this test has proven to be a more arduous undertaking than we expected. There are plenty of really inspirational stories on 7sage from people who started in the 140s and struggled their way up to a 170 over the course of 2 sometimes 3 years. It's a process and for those of us who are typically shitty test takers, it's often a much longer process. One thing to keep in mind is that as difficult as this may be, Law School will be far more challenging.

The path of struggle seems to be my lot in life, I sound almost Buddhist.

I once heard of a guy who started studying for the test 1 month before he took it and got into Harvard. That has certainly not been my experience lol, but honestly with how much I am fighting for this goal, I feel like I am really realizing how important it is to me. If it was easy, maybe I wouldn't appreciate it so much. I watched Creed last night and what Rocky Balboa just kept saying to Creed was " One step at a time, one punch at a time, one round at a time."

I know 7Sage can get me there maybe I just need more time, and to let go of always trying to be perfect right away.

@patriciakim511 Thank you for reminding me that all good things take time

@mochapup81252 said:

@nf22251, if I were you I would wait and apply next cycle. I am kind of in the same boat with the LSAT I was Pting between 159 and 165 and I got my score back and it was a 154! I was shocked because I have never PTed that low before ever! my diagnostic was higher than that. I decided to delay a cycle, take the lsat in the summer (june and july) and apply as early in cycle as possible to maximize my chances. If you are Pting way higher than youre scoring, something was happening that doesnt have anything to do with your abilities! I would take some time to figure out what that is and fix it for next cycle. LSAT is 60% of your ENTIRE application, a 148 will really hurt your changes a ton with a school averaging 159-162, even if you can get that score up to a 156 or so it would increase your chances a ton. Every point on the LSAT improves your odds so much!

@mochapup81252 Thanks for the advice. It seems like you're probably right. I was worried because I am a LOT older than everyone on here etc. then there is 3 years of school so I wouldn't even be entering the workforce with my fellow 1st year associates until I am **years old (trust me, it's old lol) but as @bonsly16224 said, we're going to age regard less might as well try and do it in the way that is best for me.

Thanks for the advice. I will strongly consider the wisdom of it.

@bonsly16224 said:

I am also in the same situation and it really does suck. I was scoring 10 points higher on practice tests and bombed the LSAT again. I’m 31 years old, a mother, and a full-time employee & I wasn’t sure I wanted to test again. I thought about giving up and just getting certified (currently a paralegal). But it isn’t what I want to do with my life. After much thought, I realized that I can’t give up. I’m going to age regardless, might as well keep trying! My daughter knows how hard I’ve been working for this, and if I give up, I feel I won’t set the right example for her. You can do this! We’ve come too far to just quit!

I too have daughters that I really want to inspire with my story of never giving up and it never being too late to pursue a dream.

I really was feeling truly sorry for myself because I was reading all the initial posts on this thread on Sat morning and they were all celebratory and positive, so it really did seem that I was the only one that drew the short stick. So, as much as I wouldn't wish this rotten luck on anyone, it's comforting to read about others who had a result that they were not hoping for, and yet are still willing to stand up, wipe the blood off their lips and face their opponent again.

Of course I'm going to jump back in the ring again! Like you said, We've come too far to just quit.

@bonsly16224 Thanks for the love mama

@faris03501 said:

@nf22251 thanks for sharing your story. I experienced the same result. This was my second time writing and once again I bombed it. I am so great at being terrible!! I even started to look at other programs because I was feeling so sorry for myself. I truly felt like this was the test; I felt really positive after I finished writing. It feels defeating now, but what’s more defeating is choosing not to rewrite. Don’t give up. I really feel for you. You’re not the only one! Hang in there and give it another shot because nothing good is ever easy! I’m going to binge eat delicious food for the next week and not feel guilty about it. Then I’m going to get my sorry ass back the gym and the library and then I’m going slay this test (on the third time)!!! #ladyboss

Thanks for writing this, and for taking the time to cheer me up.I swore I wouldn't do it again, but I also know that if I don't give it everything I have, I'll regret it. I truly hate the idea of regret. I have some soul searching to do.

@aholtzer34 said:

You mentioned in another thread you are a URM. if that is so and you are a URM with a near perfect GPA I think you will be okay applying this cycle. However, if scholarship is important and you were PTing in the 159-162 and this was just your first LSAT waiting another cycle might be a serious option.

Thank you for reaching out. Nov is actually my 2nd test. I took the June one too where I got a 148. So if I would apply this cycle I would use the 148 score, so that is the tiniest bit better I guess. And I would have loved to have scholarship money, but...maybe I should just accept that this is it. What I am worried about is what if I can reach the high 50/low 60s in PTs but I can't repeat it in the test? Self-doubt is a weird thing. Anyway, thank you for your feedback and for your time.

I am so crushed that I have been off my computer and this forum all day.

I really felt good about the test, in fact I told my husband that I felt the test opened itself up to me. I wasn't nervous, I was relaxed and was even having fun. I had practiced so many times under test conditions that it really just seemed like another practice test. I am good at skipping time consuming questions and returning to them. I am good at broad-strokes synopses of LR paragraphs etc. All of these really led me to feel that I understood the test. I know I'm not and have never been a high scorer, but I was PT'ing in the 159-162 range and I was feeling great, because the school that I want is right in that range.

So when I got my score back yesterday morning and I see a 146...well, I was contemplating just posting to this discussion board, " Congrats to all of you who did well, and I hope you all have a wonderful life being lawyers, but I obviously cannot do it. Maybe it's just not for me."

I am so broken. I don't know what to do.

I have a nearly perfect GPA and I have good LOR, should I apply this cycle and just hope they accept me? But what if they don't, can I apply again with a hopefully better score next cycle or if since I'd already have applied once would I not be allowed to apply again?

Please help!

Am I the only one who hasn't received her score yet? Why is mine delayed?

@samuelttyler890 said:

Too busy counting my chickens before they hatch... In preparation for starting school in January, I've started front-loading all the things I call "ankle biters" that pop up when they are the most inconvenient and screw you over when you are actually busy:

Reset all my passwords to all my accounts

Reviewed my investment plan, made adjustments

Got my car serviced

Renewed my passport that will expire in a couple months

Re-evaluated my cable bill, decided to become "a Slinger" saving $95/mo.

Bought a new luxury mattress to improve my beauty rest

Converted a guest room into an office and bought a desk and office chair

Put all my bills on autopay

Went and got an annual physical/flu shot and dental check-up/cleaning

Took the dawg to the vet and got his shots and meds

And, probably, the best time-saving maneuver ever:

Blocked and deleted the numbers/emails of ex-girlfriends who have become psychic vampires

OOH you are not messing around. Good for you with the exes lol. I also need to go to the dentist ( thanks for the reminder) Good advise all around Thanks @samuelttyler890

@cgracia12433 said:

Be sure not to delay any parts of your application. I took the test in December and it took me a couple weeks after scores were released to get my application out. I had plenty of free time to work on the applications, but I assumed they would take less time than they did.

Oh okay, thanks for the advise. I'm the kind of person who focuses on one task at a time, so I was all consumed with LSAT studies and hadn't thought at all about the next step until now. I don't even know how to navigate the CAS system...so I can see that it will take me some time to have everything done, especially with 3 kids and a full time job.

@tinagk55 said:

I felt the same so I joined the gym. That night, the gym burned down. So then I bought some new books to occupy my time, but when I got home I realized I left them on the bus. Anyways- I'll take it as fate telling me to get studying for my retake lol.

Oh my god you poor thing. That would be hilarious if it wasn't so tragic. Hope all your bad luck was just used up and you have nothing but good juju from now on.

@sc1293486 said:

@jacquestoupin470 said:

@sc1293486 said:

Do you guys remember whether the LR section with question about a girl sending her application to be considered for an award, and mailing her application within 10 days was an experimental or the actual??

It was real, I had 2 LRs and seen this question.

I remember this one because I thought that amazon prime and the express option was totally going to screw people up

Thanks!! Also wondering if you recall a question about a study done with two groups, one group given a self-help medical book and the other without!!

Yes I think it was 2 families, one with a medical help book and one without.

@haglerfran176 said:

It's Monday morning post-LSAT and I am lost with what to do with my time since I am not studying. Anyone feeling the same weird way? Lol

Absolutely, it's a weird reality not having to study right now

So I showed up to my testing center yesterday at around 8 am, at the local university and (for whatever reason in my head) I assumed the test will be held at the law college on campus. I happened to have to be dropped off also, but I didn't think that would be an issue, I just told my ride I'd meet him at 1:30 after it's done etc.

Anyway, I go into the law school and notice there is no one around at all, and certainly not anyone with plastic bags. It occurs to me that the test is not going to be there. I manage to find a girl and show her my ticket and she tells me that the location is actually across campus at the most opposite spot that it could be. She said "don't worry it'll only take you about 20 minutes if you run".

Now, of course, we don't have our cell phones on us because of the test, so I can't call my ride and i can't check the time, but I'm guessing that it is about 8:15 at this point. So I just begin running as fast as my out-of-shape legs can carry me. It is mostly uphill and the morning was about 42 degrees. But every time I wanted to stop I just kept asking myself "DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO ALL THIS AGAIN IN JANUARY?" So I kept going. I finally found the general area around where I thought it might be, and had to rudely interrupt a group of students who were having a conversation to ask them if they knew where the hall was. Luckily I was close so I finished my mad dash and got in line to enter the room. I was the last one let in and they shut the door.

All I can say to my dumb*ss self is I have spent the last 6 months learning not to assume anything until proof is provided, so why in the Sam Hell did I make that huge assumption??? Don't be like me kids.

@eszkarla said:

@carinhanmd750 said:

I need to confirm that I’m not crazy, but did anyone think one of the LR questions on passwords and security looks like a similar question from a previous PT? I had 3 LRs so I don’t know if it’s experimental or not

I had that LG RC LR LR LG, and I had the password question. So it was real. But yes, they often use similar topics and similar stimuli. I swear a couple PTs I've seen identical stimuli with different Qs

Same